? Regarding Annual Passes and Perks

[LMO429]

I booked a reservation today via the telephone with universal studios.

I asked the guy on the phone that if I was to purchase an annual pass today would I be able to book a room using the room discount associated with the annual pass.

He told me that in order to get the perks with the annual pass that the annual pass must be swiped at least once in person at a ticket turnstile in orlando in order to receive them. Is this true?

 

[phamton]

You can book your room with the non-activated annual pass. But you will need to activate it the same day as check-in. So reserve a room and then go to the park and activate your AP after you arrive.

 

[damo]

I booked a reservation today via the telephone with universal studios.

I asked the guy on the phone that if I was to purchase an annual pass today would I be able to book a room using the room discount associated with the annual pass.

He told me that in order to get the perks with the annual pass that the annual pass must be swiped at least once in person at a ticket turnstile in orlando in order to receive them. Is this true?

This is mostly enforced with parking at the parks. They are more lenient at the hotels. The hotels don't know if you've activated yet or not. You can pick up your annual pass at the kiosk at the hotel and show it if you are asked. Generally, they will be happy with your confirmation receipt if they ask at all.

 

[phamton]

Thanks, Damo. You could tell that I never stay onsite.

 

[Metro West]

Thanks, Damo. You could tell that I never stay onsite.

No need to.

 

[damo]

Thanks, Damo. You could tell that I never stay onsite.

Lol. But you are a pro at all the park stuff!

 

[LMO429]

So if I purchased an annual pass today. Then would a hotel discount be applied to my current reservation?

 

[damo]

So if I purchased an annual pass today. Then would a hotel discount be applied to my current reservation?

It would. But also if you purchased an annual pass the day you got there, it would also be applied. Just tell them you want the AP discount. You don't need to already have the AP in order to book with the AP discount.

 

[LMO429]

It would. But also if you purchased an annual pass the day you got there, it would also be applied. Just tell them you want the AP discount. You don't need to already have the AP in order to book with the AP discount.

Ok that is what I originally understood but the "cast member" on the phone said this was not the case and that no discount could be applied to the room until I swip the annual pass through the park turnstile then the following visit I would be able to get a discount towards the room.

 

[damo]

Ok that is what I originally understood but the "cast member" on the phone said this was not the case and that no discount could be applied to the room until I swip the annual pass through the park turnstile then the following visit I would be able to get a discount towards the room.

Just call the reservations line or book online using the code APH. They will give you the discount. Must be a new "team member" (lol...that's the Universal term).

What you just quoted is the truth for parking though. The TM was confused.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Just call the reservations line or book online using the code APH. They will give you the discount. Must be a new "team member" (lol...that's the Universal term).

What you just quoted is the truth for parking though. The TM was confused.

I can never get an APH rate to show up when I check for them. I realize they won't show them for dates out in October when we are going but I tried all kind of dates in the next month or so just to see the difference.

I am probably going to upgrade to an AP when we arrive and use the discount on room. Right now I have it booked at a rate of $304/night for 4 adults.

 

[bumbershoot]

Well, wait, I think we need to step back. (controlling urge to quote Real Genius....)

If the APH rate doesn't show for your dates, it isn't available at that time for your dates. As far as I know there's no "all the time" AP discount that you can just *get* when you arrive.

When you call and ask for the APH rate, or when you go online to the Loews site and put in APH, and there's NO AP rate given, then there's no AP rate for those dates to be had at that time.

There might have been AP rates, there might be AP rates in the future. But not right then.


It's never recommended to get an AP and THEN try for the rates, if the rates are the only reason you want the AP. If the AP is the only reason, first you try and try and try to get an AP rate, and IF you do, then you buy the AP.

But for the time being, book the lowest rate that you see that you can deal with paying if no AP rate ever shows up, and if the AP rate shows up later on, you can switch it.



OP, we booked an AP rate for our second Universal trip, simply using APH in the code box online. I bought an AP online AFTER that, because the total price made sense. (the savings with the AP rate was more than me upgrading from tickets to APs) I had the voucher with me to show at checkin. Now, they never asked for it, but that's beside the point; they could have, and I had it, but I didn't even have an AP in hand when I checked in, and they didn't care.

Your first TM was wrong.


But there's no blanket AP rate you'll get just by having one. The APH rate has to be booked, in order to get it.


This site is lovely for checking all three hotels at once. Just pop in APH to the code box, and if an AP rate shows up, book it. If not, go for the lowest rate you are shown, if you will be staying there no matter what.

And then do what I do...check every day for that APH rate to show up!


As an illustration, I just put in 3/28 through 3/31 of this year, and for two hotels (just now) there is an AP rate available. For the third hotel, it's only a seasonal rate. Go look, see the difference (if it's still there when you look).

 

[Mad Hattered]

Then why would they promote that you get discounted rooms if you have the Preferred pass? It doesn't state you get discounted rooms (when and if we feel like it).

 

[macraven]

i think it is the semantics here that some might think they are promoting that.

the benefits are listed for preferred and premier ap's.

just because a benefit is allowed, doesn't mean there isn't a catch for the person wanting to use it.


i never depend on the ap room rates as i book too far out.

 

[Mad Hattered]

i think it is the semantics here that some might think they are promoting that.

the benefits are listed for preferred and premier ap's.

just because a benefit is allowed, doesn't mean there isn't a catch for the person wanting to use it.


i never depend on the ap room rates as i book too far out.

I booked too far out as well but I can guarantee that if the rate becomes available between now and then I will have them modify the reservation.

 

[macraven]

I booked too far out as well but I can guarantee that if the rate becomes available between now and then I will have them modify the reservation.

i hear ya homie.

my first priority is getting the room type so i book 11 months out.
the only discounted rates that far out are the promos and AAA usually.

have been doing it this way for about 6 years.
if the promo rates aren't out the year prior, i go with AAA and switch to promo when they do arise.

since i stay for 9 nights or so, promos give me 30% off the room when i book it. one year i received 35% off.


i have tried twice to switch to the ap rate from the promo but the rooms are already booked up.
those that originally book with the ap rate, can call and have their rate modified immediately.
they don't have to cancel/switch or anything.

only a certain amount of rooms are allowed per hotel for ap rates, i am out of luck by the time i know i can switch.

i know i can switch from the promo rate in early summer when the ap rates come out for october but they are not as lowly discounted for my dates.

but, when travel agencies release the blocks of rooms back to the hotel, they usually are set up for the ap discounts and they go fast.
last year rooms at rph went for $139.

many agencies book blocks of rooms at the hotels to use in creating packages for their clientel.
when those packages aren't sold, the agency gives them back to that hotel so they don't have to end up paying for them.

i am satisfied of getting 30% off my room rates so i don't take the gamble to switch over to ap when they first come out.

if i was only staying one or two nights, i probably would take the gamble and go for it.

i check rate sites daily once it hits mid summer.

i'll give you a heads up when i see changes on them

 

[Mad Hattered]

i'll give you a heads up when i see changes on them

Please do!

 

[bumbershoot]

I notice on the Preferred AP info page, they don't mention hotel discounts (apart from the initial page with the checkmarks). on the Premier page, it says "Save up to 30% off room rates1 at each on-site hotel".

Up to means up from 0%...

And of course there's wording on all the pages about discounts being subject to availability.

 

[damo]

The "up to " part will get you every time.

 

[Mad Hattered]

The "up to " part will get you every time.

Pfffft! I done been "up to'd"!!